Beautiful Jessica Storm joins us this week on In Her Lane to share how she was diagnosed with breast cancer when she was 28 weeks pregnant. Terrified that doctors would make her choose between treatment and keeping her baby, Jessica became educated on the latest cancer therapy for pregnant women and started a practice of telling herself that she and her baby would be okay--keeping her spirits up daily. Jessica talks about how she had to learn how to trust others through the process so she could go to her treatments, and how she tried to create a sense of “normalcy” for her family. Like so many who receive a diagnosis, go through treatment, and then get the news that they are “in the clear,” it was only a short time before she faced new diagnoses that took her to the next “starting over” place. Jessica candidly reveals how she faced cancer’s newest invasion of her body and how she adopted another practice; vowing to “live for the big moments.” With energy and determination, Jessica’s passion to live life to the fullest will inspire you--wherever you may be in your cancer journey.

Links/Products/Resources Mentioned

Compassionthatcompels.org

Compassion That Compels Facebook

Compassion That Compels Instagram

Kristiannestewart.com

www.breastcenter.com

Center for Restorative Breast Surgery Facebook

Jessica’s Instagram

In Her Lane Podcast was funded by a grant from the Center for Restorative Breast Surgery.

Quotes

“Even in a diagnosis, you have that tenuous balance between hope and despair. Are you going to pull yourself up and have someone hold you up and support you on the side of hope?” —Kristianne Stewart

“I really encourage people to make the best of it. It is just going to be a chapter in your life. It is not everything.” —Jessica Storm

“Every time my mind goes to an ugly spot, I allow myself to take a few minutes to think about those scary thoughts that make my stomach hurt. And then remember I am alive, and I go find [my daughter] go do something, get outside, take a fresh breath of air.” —Jessica Storm

“When I was on oral chemo for a year, I took pills at seven a.m. and seven p.m. and every single time I took those pills, I said to myself, or out loud... I would say, ‘I am strong, I am healthy, and I am cancer free.’ I made sure that I said that twice a day for 359 days.” —Jessica Storm